Gage.



J. HARRIS.

GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-l0. l9l7.

Patented J an. 14, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HARRIS, 0F LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JAMES R. ROSE, OF

. PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14., 1919.

Application filed August 10, 1917. Serial No. 185,417.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lakewood, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Gages, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the acompanying drawings.

This invention relates to gages and more particularly to gages of the Bourdon type. It is the object of the invention to which this application is directed to reduce to a minimum the liability of injury to operators and by-standers in the event that the tubes of such ages should be ruptured and the casings t ereof broken through the access of gas thereto under a pressure greater than that which the casings are capa le of withstanding.

In the drawings forming a part hereof Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the top-of a gas tank having a gage of the Bourdon type connected to the pipe leading therefrom. Fig. 2 is a view, partly 1n section and partly in elevation, of the said gage, the cover being removed.- Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of the blow-out member for the wall of the gage; and Fig. 4 a

detail in perspective the plug which serves to control the admission of gases to the gage and to safeguard the Bourdon tube against rupture.

' Describing by reference characters the various parts illustrated herein, 1 denotes.

the upper portion of a tank such as is used for thestorage of gases under high pressure and 2 the valve controlling the supply of gas from the tank -through a pipe 3'. 4 denotesthe cylindrical casing wall of the gage, said wall being provided with an opening in the bottom thereof for the reception of the nipple 5. This nipple is provided with the usual head 6 by means of which it is secured to the cylindrical wall 4, as by means of screws 7. 8 denotes the Bourdon tube which extends through the head 6 and connects The lower end of the nipple is threaded whereby it is secured to a connection 10 extending upwardly from the pipe 3.

The outer end of the tube 8 is connected by a curved extension 8 and a link 10 with a curved extension 11 of a gear se ent 66 11, said segment meshing with a pinion 12 parts thus far described are pressure developed within the tube 8 is sufli-- cient to disengage the gear and inion. The

usual construction.

Threaded into the bore 9 is a plug 16, said plug having a restricted passageway 17 therethrough and being provided with a head 18 spaced from said passageway and overhangin the discharge end thereof. The head 18 wil preferably be of such size as to fit within the bore 9 and provide an annular passageway between said head and the wall defining said bore. The plug may be provided .with a slot 17 for the reception .of a screw driver or other instrument by which it may be inserted into, withdrawn from, and adjusted along the bore 9. Communication between the bore 9 and tube 8 is effected by the passage 9, also preferably of restrictthan the area of saidopening to overlap the same. Secured to the lower central portion of the plate 19 is a flat spring 20, the spring and plate-being shown as connected by a rivet 21. This spring is preferably longer than the plate 19 and the openin and is shown as extending longitudinal y of said plate. 1 While the plate 19 is shown as rectan lar in outline, I do not propose to limit myself to such shape nor to the partic-, ular shape and arrangement of the spring 20. The plate 19 may be applied to the cylindrical casing wall 4 by flexing the ends of the spring toward each other so as to permit them to be inserted within the opening 4. The spring will then hold the plate seated over the opening 4.

In operating with gases, it sometimes happens that, through faulty manipulation, a high pressure is suddenly developed within the pipe 3 and within the connections leading to the gage. With gages as ordinarily constructed, the gas under these conditions will strike a blow upon the metal of the tube 8 which will frequentlyresult in its rupture or permanent injury. By using the narrow passageway 17, the gas is prevented from entering the tube 8 rapidly; furthermore, the head 18 acts as a baiile to prevent a stream of gas under high pressure from striking the tube suddenly. In other words, the restricted passageway 17 and the baffle head 18 prevent the rupturing or permanent injury of the tube 8 through the development of a high pressure in the pipe 3 lasting for a comparatively short period. However, should excessive pressure be main tained for a considerable period of time and result in rupturing the tube, the gage wall 4, being incapable of withstanding this pressure, will also be ruptured, heretofore with danger to the operator and the by-standers. In my device upon the rupture of the tube 8, the plate 19 will be blown upwardly, thus preserving the casing and because of its location at the top of the gage, will not injure any person who may be in the vicinity.

WVhile the plug 16 is particularly advantageous in connection with high-pressure gases, its field of usefulness is not limited to gases under such pressures. It will prevent fluctuations of pressure in the tube and consequent oscillation of the pointer in connection with gages operating under pressure of five pounds and less. This is particularly true where the gage is used in connection with a reciprocating pressure or charging pump.

The construction for ordinarily preventing the rupture or permanent injury'of the tube constitutes no part of the invention which it is the purpose of this application to secure, the same constituting the subject matter of a separate application to be filed hereafter.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a gage, the combination of a casing, and a safety device in-the upper portion of said casing adapted to be removed by the pressure of gas within said casing.

meagre? 2. In a gage, the combination of a cylindrical casing having an opening in the upper portion of the cylindrical wall thereof, a plate for covering said opening, and yielding means for holding said p a ative relation to said opening.

3. In a gage, the combination of a cylindrical casing having an opening in the upper portion of the cylindrical wall thereof, a plate adapted to close said opening, and a spring secured to said plate and adapted to engage the inside of the casing at a plurality of points thereby to normally retain the plate in operative relation to said opening.

4. In a gage, the combination of a cylindrical casing having an opening in the upper portion 'of the cylindrical wall thereof, a plate conforming to and of greater extent thansaid opening whereby it may cover and overlap the same, and a spring secured at its central portion to the underside of said plate, the ends of said spring being adapted to engage the inside of the cylindrical casing on opposite sides of the opening therethrough, whereby the plate will normally be held in operative relation to said opening by said spring.

5. In a gage, the combination of a cylindrical casing having an opening in the upper portion of the cylindrical wall thereof, a plate adapted to close said opening, and means connected with said plate and yieldingly engaging the inside of the cylindrical wall of the casing for holding said plate in operative relation to said opening.

6. In a gage, the combination of a cylindrical casing having an opening in the upper portion of the cylindrical wall thereof, a plate adapted to cover and overlap said opening, and a fiat spring secured to and having its ends diverging from the under side of said plate and adapted to engage the inside of the casing adjacent said opening.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signatutre.

JOHN HARRIS.

te in oper 

